Sunday, May 31, 2015

This post will be short and sweet. Not sure if you've been following along, but we tore up our house; moving around a few rooms and renovating our crafting space. Since we didn't finish last weekend, I've been working on finishing it after work and now that another weekend is here, we got a lot more done today. But still more to do, and now I'm exhausted. So I'm literally dozing off as I write this. Like I said, bound to be short and sweet...besides this part, Lol. Also, please forgive any typo's.

This week, CanYouCaseIt is bringing you a sketch challenge to play with!

I went a little outside of the box with this (I know, SHOCKER, right? Like "Out of the Box" is not my style? Lol!). Instead of a card, I wanted to make a 3-D item. Here it is:

I hope it's not taboo to say that when I first saw the Bohemian DSP, I was like "wth?" (that's "what the heck" around here...) On one hand, I wasn't crazy about it, but on the other hand, it was just so different that I liked the "outside the box-ness" of it. I kind of took it as a challenge to come up with a way to make it work. (BTW, Cindy Schuster has made some of the best Bohemian projects that I've seen out there so far. See them HERE.)

Before this sketch challenge came around, I've just had the thought of using the paper in the back of my mind, waiting for a project to attack. When I saw the sketch, something just clicked, and I said to myself, "hey, I'll make a gift bag! And I'll use the new Bohemian DSP!" Voila! This project was born!

I got to break in not only the DSP, but also the new Gift Bag Punch Board. Again, I'll admit that I was a little intimidated by the punch board. But I read the directions that are actually printed on the board (must say, Great Idea, Stampin' Up!), looked it over a few times, and got to scoring. And it really is a piece of cake once you know what to do. Let me know if you need a video tutorial...I've been considering filming something, just not sure if there would be any interest.

The sketch inspired me to follow the lines of the Bohemian pattern on the bottom of my tag to get the pointy banner look of the sketch. After I did that, I also wanted to follow the lines of the pattern by chomping the top corners of the tag with the hexagon punch. I stamped the sentiment in the new Dijon In-Color and Bermuda Bay. I punched the small hearts out of Bermuda Bay and Gold Foil to tie in the Gold Baker's Twine. I finished the bag off with a handle made from the Bohemian Washi tape. I just stuck 2 long pieces of tape sticky side together, used the stickiness to stick it to the bag, and stapled it for both design and function.

Hope you like it! Please visit CYCI to see what the rest of the design team has made. Hope you play along with the challenge while you're there.

So much for short and sweet...I should have known better. Oh, well. Off to bed for me now. Good night!

All products are current Stampin' Up! I used the ever trusty Guy Greetings stamp set along with the Typeset DSP. Color combo is Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Tip Top Taupe, and Gold. Stamps inked in black except for the "Hats Off" sentiment which is embossed with gold EP and the background "Congratulations" which is stamped in gold ink. I used the new banner punch to shape the bottom of the main banner and sides of the sentiment banner.

I created the tassel by dismantling a scrap of the Gold Baker's Twine until I separated the individual strands. Then pinched the strands together and folded them in half. I took two of the strands and tied a knot around the fold, which created the "tail" to my tassel. I finished it by taking another strand and tying it around the fold. Trimmed the tassel to my liking and used a glue dot to secure the tail to the back of the hat, so that way it still has movement with the card.

Bonus did-ya-know tip: I used Dimensionals to lift my Guy, but I still needed extra dimension for the sentiment. What I did was stack 2 Dimensionals onto each other at each edge of the banner, then stuck the sentiment to the double Dimensional stacks. This way, the sentiment is still lifted above the Guy even though the Guy is already lifted up himself. Make sense? Man, that was a lot of words...

Well that's it for now. Hope you join in the challenge, or at the very least visit the site to see what the other designers have created. See you on Sunday for a CYCI sketch challenge and (SPOILER ALERT) see you early next week for a surprise Non-Friday TGIF post!

Monday, May 25, 2015

I didn't want you to worry about me since I didn't post a card over the weekend. I'm ok. Just in case you haven't seen on Facebook or Instagram, we are going through some big changes with our crafting space. Last week, my wife had the epiphany to switch our craft room with our bedroom...trust me, it makes sense if you know the layout of our house. So far we have emptied out our craftroom into our living room and made a huge mess:

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And we were able to set up our bedroom just in time to sleep last night. Now it's on to Ikea to get a few final items to hopefully tie it all together. Here's my old crafting space if you were curious (say goodbye):

I hope to be able to post some after pics soon. The sooner the better. Can't wait to be done. I have to go back to work tomorrow and there's no way I can leave the house in this disarray. Not only that, but there's no stamping that can be done in the interim since everything is all meshuganah.

Well I've got to get going. Please don't forget to stop by and play along with a our challenges this week. I'll just craft vicariously through you, if that's ok...

Hope you stop back by to see our end results, or just follow my Instagram to join the journey! Hope you have a great week, and at the very least hopefully I'll see you Friday for a new TGIF Challenge (Lord willing I can have a space to work by then. LOL).

Friday, May 22, 2015

Hey there! Thanks for joining me. Guess what? I made you something. Yep, just for you. Nope, no special occasion. Just because. I was inspired. Wanna see what inspired me? It was this:

Yep, the geniuses over at TGIF Challenges have a new challenge... It's truly inspired. Take a look at the picture above. See the flowers? Or do you see the colours? Or do you notice the needlepoint pattern? Or how about the puppy? I am serious about that. I do see a puppy and I did almost run with it...I'll let you sort it out. Here is the non-puppy flowery stitch inspired card that I ended up making (for you):

So I'm not a huge flower fan. I originally wanted to go a different route with this project, but I guess inspiration is inspiration. The color combo and flower were a no-brainer since that imagery was so prevalent in the challenge. But when I looked at the theme image, the first thing that I noticed was the nod toward needlepoint. I wanted to replicate a feeling for stitching and fabric. That's why you see the burlap on the bottom and the piercing at the top. By the way, this was my first go at paper piercing. For all it's worth, here's a tip from a rookie...I couldn't find that plastic piercing guide when I was making this card, so I "freehanded" the line by placing a ruler parallel to the top edge of the paper and piercing every 1/8". I felt pretty clever, but is that really just common sense? Don't tell me...I'd rather go on thinking that I'm just really clever.

I also liked the look of the You've Got This background stamp and I tried to continue the linework with the cross stitch type coloring of the flower. This was my first time using this background stamp, and it definitely won't be the last. I'm lovin' the grungy look, especially paired with the torn/distressed edges.

Well I hope that you find some inspiration, and that you come on by to TGIFC and share it with us. I'd be blown away if anybody is brave enough to enter a puppy card this week...but I cant be the only one who sees him. He's just way too cute!!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Hi again! This year, we've had our share of April showers. And as you know, "April showers bring May flowers." Well, today, so does Can You Case It!

That's right, this week we have a flower challenge! I know that for most of you, "flower" and "challenge" aren't words that would usually go together. For me, though, I have to be in the mood to make something flowery. Well thank goodness for the new Stampin' Up sets and colors!

Like those new colors? Tip Top Taupe is the brownish-grayish, the reddish-pinkish Watermelon Wonder is my new favorite, and the leaves are the bright green Cucumber Crush. The image is a 3-step stamp from the Floral Wings set, the striped paper is from the new Envelope paper set, and I created the border with the new Lace Ribbon (which comes in all of the new In Colors - totally sweet...like having a spool of colored doily!). Just in case you're wondering, I added the dimension to the image by fussy cutting the flowers and popping them up on dimensionals. It wasn't necessary, though... I made the card for this week's stamp-n-chat without the added layering, and it totally works. I just wanted to overcomplicate it so I could show off on my blog. Lol!

Thanks for stopping in. If you haven't been over to canyoucaseit.com yet, go and check out what the design team has created for you. While you're there, I hope that there will be a creative seed planted in you which will end up growing an inspired idea and blooming into a May Flower project of your own which you will then pluck and share with us! That wasn't toooo much of a stretch on the theme, was it?

Friday, May 15, 2015

It's Friday! And you know what that means...TGIF!! This week we have a theme:

That's right! In honor of all of the studious students studying out there, we are celebrating the graduating class! Here's looking at you, first graders! Before you know it, summer will be over and you will have a whole year of second grade ahead of you...reading books with less pictures and longer words, math problems with more numbers and funny looking symbols...there's a whole 'nother world out there that you never realized!! Lol! Oh, how I long for the days of picture books and recess....

So just in case you're wondering, NO, I didn't make my card for a first grader or first grade graduation. In fact when I was in school, there was no such thing as "First Grade Graduation." Here I go, rambling again. If you know me by now, then you know how I like to ramble...focus...back to the card.... This is merely celebratory themed with balloons and fun colors, in my opinion age appropriate for ANY graduation from kindergarten to Medical School. What doctor hasn't considered their profession to be adventuresome at some point? I mean seriously, have you ever been to the emergency room? Have you ever watched General Hospital? Talk about adventure! Here I go rambling again...back to the card... I really just wanted to get some more use out of my Adventure Awaits stamp set before he retires :-( I actually thought that any of those stamps in that set could be graduation themed. I always think about graduating as starting a new chapter in life, which is why I chose this sentiment..."The Adventure Begins!" I paired it with my new favorite DSP...Adios "Adventure Bound", Hello "Cherry On Top"! A few Early Espresso banners and a few fussy cut balloons, and voila! Happy Graduation!!

Hope you pop on over to TGIFChallenges to see what our team has made. While you're there, you should check out the entries for last week's challenge...nearly 50 cards!! I swear we have such a talented gang of challengers! It's getting hard to tell the design team from the challengers these days! I hope that you will join us and show off your stuff too. Let's see what you can do with this week's Grad theme....

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Welcome to May's "One Stamp at a Time" (OSAT) blog hop! For those who may not know, OSAT is a group of crafty folks that have found each other on Facebook and have now started a monthly blog hop. If you came to my post organically, please follow the hop to see what other goodies were made for your viewing pleasure. If you have arrived via my buddy Maggie Mata, thanks for hopping in!!

Our theme for this month is Monochromatic. I chose Gold, Crumbcake, and Vanilla. See what ya' think:

In addition to this card, I also made this bookmark gift set...

For the card I used the flower from the new Stampin' Up! You've Got This stamp set and the butterfly and sentiment from the new Best Thoughts set. All images embossed in gold; the butterfly and flower fussy cutted for added dimension. I finished the images with Crumbcake watercoloring.

For the bookmark set, the flowers and vines were stamped from the new SU! Floral Wings set. I also used the new I Think You're Great set for one of the bookmarks. My main inspiration for this project was the new Neutrals Designer Paper Pack, especially the pages with the beautiful handwriting over a variety of colors and tones. I used that page as well as the floral page (both in gold, of course). I punched the tops of the bookmarks with a few different tag punches and tied them with gold embedded bakers twine and gold sequin trim. Butterflies were punched with the Bitty Butterfly punch.

So that's all that I have for you today, but I'll be back with more tomorrow and even more this weekend, so please do visit again... But since the day is still young, there's so much more for you to see if you click the "Next" button below! Go ahead, you know you want to...

And just in case you've been wandering around and you got lost, here is a map of the hop...

Well that's really all...thanks for joining us and I hope to see you again! Soon! And often! And I hope that you leave comments! And that they're nice! Or at least neutral! Just not mean! That'd be great! Thanks! Oh, and tell your friends! They might like my stuff too! Unless they're mean! Then don't tell them about me! Lol! I should have stopped about 41 words ago! Now I've gone too far! I've been drinking coffee and blogging again! Dang it! I said I wouldn't do that to you any more! I'm Sorry! I should go now! Bye!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

So today is Mother's Day and I had another opportunity to make a Mother's Day card, this time to actually give to my sweetie. See, even though I have made about 3 MD cards this season, I couldn't give her any of the those since she had already seen them all (plus I didn't actually make them for her...Lol!). Well, thank goodness CYCI came along to inspire me with a sketch!

I flipped the sketch and traded the banners for doughnuts...take a look!

As soon as I saw it, I knew I just had to use Stampin' Up's new Cherry On Top DSP. If you know my style, you know that I like to have fun with my cards...and what's more fun than candy and doughnut paper? But of course, I always like to do something different, so I couldn't settle with just telling her that she's the best...when I could remind her that She's The Bestest! I used the "You're the Best" sentiment from the brand spankin new Friendly Wishes stamp set and created my version with a masking technique. The card base and sentiment ink is also brand new - Tip Top Taupe! Again, the doughnuts, candy paper, and banners are all from the Cherry on Top DSP pack - so much fun!

Thank you for joining me and I hope you come back later this week...there is a blog hop on Thursday, a new TGIF Challenge on Friday, and another CYCI on Sunday...Man, it's going to be a busy week of Stampin since I don't have any of those projects done yet! Yikes! I better get going....

Friday, May 8, 2015

Hey there, friends! Thanks for joining me today for another TGIF Challenge...we made it to our second week, so I guess you can say it's a HUGE success! (Right? Lol) A big thanks to all of the challengers that played along with TGIFC01 - what a terrific showing! Now onto week #02...This time we are working with a sketch!

And here's what I got out of it...

I'm sure you're like me and you saw an ice cream cone from the sketch too, right? Go ahead and scroll back up...check it out! See what I mean? Totally an Ice Cream Cone Sketch!

Ok, well maybe it is a stretch...but I seriously DID see an ice cream cone the very first time I saw the sketch. Maybe it's my craving for some sweet creamy goodness since I've been (mostly) vegan for almost a year. Maybe it's my need to be different. Heck, I could just be rebelling against the status quo... Let's just say that I see it as it's my duty to remind you that these challenges are open to interpretation and creativity is welcome! I am personally encouraging YOU to push the envelope! Do something different!! Have FUN!!! That's why we do this, right? If it's not fun, then what's the point?

So this challenge came out just in time to use the newest SU! In Colors and DSP! For this card I used a white base, Early Espresso card front, and a top layer of Watermelon Wonder cardstock textured with the large polka dots. The ice cream is punched from the swirly Watermelon Wonder Envelope paper, and the "cone" is made from the brand new Bohemian DSP. I used early espresso to stamp the "You're so sweet" sentiment is from the "You're So Sweet" stamp set (coincidence? I think not!).

Please remember to visit TGIF Challenges to see the other design team's creations and play along! See you later, and Happy Stampin'!!

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Hey there :-) Nice to see you again! Thanks for stopping in to see this week's CYCI Sketch Challenge:

Here's what I got out of it....

I call him my little Butterbee...get it? Part butterfly, part bee.... I made him with the Baby Bumblebee stamp (Hecka Cute!) but I wanted to change him up and give him some REAL wings Lol! Colours are Hello Honey and Early Espresso with a little sponge of Tangerine Tango, and the sentiment is From The Herd on Very Vanilla. Top layer is from the Gold Fancy Designer Vellum pack.

Have to keep this short and sweet this week...out the door to see the Kenney Chesney/Jason Aldean tour at the brand new SF 49er's stadium! Yee-Haw!! Maybe I'll be able to share some pics...check my IG and see if I had any fun...

Well thanks again, please go check out CanYouCaseIt.com to see what our great design team has made to inspire you and be sure to play along and inspire us! After all, we do this for you.....